Bottle carrier



March 30, 1954 R. w. STEVENSON BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Sept. 28, 1949 -L------ INVENTOR. ja /k Vfd Patented Mar. 30, .1954

BOTTLE CARRIER Ralph W. Stevenson, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Metal Carrier Corporation, Grand Rapids, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application September 28, 1949, Serial No. 118,233

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved bottle carrier adapted to hold a plurality of bottles for transportation and storage.

In my application Serial No. 53,773, filed October 11, 1948, now Patent No. 2,626,725 and entitled Bottle Carrier, I have disclosed and claimed an improved bottle carrier for soft drink bottles or the like. This carrier incorporates a floating interior bottle-pocket defining structure that has been found capable of withstanding without damage many times the number of blows and shocks prior carriers could endure.

In accordance with the present invention the advantages of this improved carrier structure are achieved, but at the same time an improved interior portion capable of being inserted into the basket portion is provided.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved metal bottle carrier that may be readily assembled.

Another object is to provide a readily assembled bottle carrier capable of withstanding the blows and shocks incident to use.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristio of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be evident from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View of a complete bottle carrier constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken in the plane 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken in the planes 33, Figure 2.

The basket portion B of the bottle carrier is defined by a bottom 4 and a 2-part side wall structure including the mating of U-shaped parts 2 and 2a whose ends meet as indicated in Fig. l at 2| and 22. The bottom has an upturned marginal rim to, Figure 2, which snugly fits in the side wall. Draw holes 5 are formed in the mating portions of the rim 4a and the side walls to eiTect a secure connection between the bottom and side walls and define a complete basket unit.

The interior portion I oi the carrier is defined by a plurality of longitudinal separators 8 and transverse struts or rods I0 and I4. Each separator 6 is turned over or beaded at its upper edge as shown at 6a, Figure 2, and is embossed at 617 to define a relatively rigid structure. Segmental hook portions 8, Figure 3, are provided along the length of each separator B. In these portions the separators are bent to define openings capable of receiving the longitudinal rods l6 which hold the longitudinal separators against upward movement relative to the bottom 4.

The upper transverse struts or rods [0 are received in aligned openings in the separators 6 as shown in Fig. 2. Sleeves I2 of rubber or like resilient material are received on the struts l0 in the regions between the adjacent separators B and between the end separators and the side walls of the basket B. The rods ID are made slightly shorter in length than the width of the basket B as shown in Fig. 2, so that the end sleeves l2 extend out over the ends of the struts.

The lower transverse rods or struts M, Fig. 2, have end portions [4a that extend down to the corners of the basket B as shown in Fig. 2. Where they pass through the end separators 6,

. these lower rods are elevated at Mb. In the which secure the interior and basket portions of the carrier together;

It will be observed from Figure 3 that the segmental ribs 4b of bottom 4 and the segmental hook portions 3 of the separators 6 mate with each other and define longitudinal slots capable of receiving the transverse rods or pins !6. In the assembled condition of the carrier these pins extend along the length of each of the separators S and anchor the interior I to the basket B.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, segmental ribs 4b are made substantially narrower than the spaces between segmental hook portions 8 to permit separators 6 to slide on pins I6 for a limited distance ineach. direction from their normally centered positions within the carrier. With this structure by providing yieldable resilient elements of the type which will subsequently be described to hold separator 6 upright and centered between the end walls 2a, the interior of the basket is permitted to swing either from side to side or from end to end under the impact of the movement of the bottles therein.

The side walls of the carrier are reinforced by the rods I8 and 20. The top margin of the side walls is Wrapped about the upper rod I8 and the bottom margin of the side walls is wrapped about the lower reinforcing rod 20.

It will be observed that the interior I and the basket B define a plurality of bottle pockets P. These pockets each receive a soft drink bottle. When the carrier is handled, the bottles are retained in position and spaced from each other by the longitudinal separators 6 and the transverse struts I and I4. However, the interior I defines a floating structure capable of yielding in response to the impact of the bottles. The pins I6 define a rockable connection between the separators B and the bottom 4 so that the separators 6 may tilt in response to the impact of bottles. This tilting is yieldably restrained by the sleeves I2 which bottom against the side walls of the carrier and against the individual separators.

The transverse struts I!) are held in position by the frictional engagement with sleeves I2, and in any event bottom against the side walls so that they cannot slide out. However, since the length of the rods is less than the width of the carrier, the side walls may be forced together without causing any tendency of the struts I 0 to puncture the side walls.

The lower transverse struts I4 have sloping sections I4d in each of the bottle pockets which sections when a bottle is inserted at an angle so that its bottom first strikes one of the struts I4 can serve to direct the bottom of the bottle towards the center of the pocket. Consequently, if a bottle is inserted in a tilted position and strikes the lower strut it merely slides along the sloping portion of that strut and eventually drops down into the bottle pocket. At this time it is directed into its intended central position. If the carrier is struck so that the bottles tend to jump out of their pockets, they are likewise directed to central position in each pocket by the sloping portions I401 of the lower struts I4.

Preferably, the bottle carrier of the present invention is constructed with the sides 2 and 2a, the bottom 4 and the longitudinal separators 6 of sheet aluminum or like metal. The transverse struts I4 and I0 may be made of steel, as are the reinforcing rods I8 and 20. The sleeves I2 are preferably made of rubber or synthetic rubber.

In the specific embodiment shown in the drawing, the carrier of the present invention can be assembled by attaching separators 6 to the bottom 4 by the insertion of pins I6 prior to the attachment of bottom 4 to sides 2 and 2a and prior to the upturning of marginal rim 4a. Following the insertion of pins I6, marginal rim 4a is turned upwardly, and then secured to sides 2 and 212 by the forming. of draw holes 5. It will be understood that other methods of assembly can be employed by making slight variations in the structure from that shown in the drawing.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited there: tdand that by the appe lqgd claims I intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a bottle carrier of the type having a bottom surrounded by side and end walls, the improvement comprising a plurality of aligned spaced separators rockably and slidably anchored to said bottom, relatively rigid struts oriented transversely of said separators and carried thereby to provide bottle pockets in conjunction therewith and having their ends terminating at spaced distances from said side walls, and sleeves of flexible, resilient material received about said struts and bottoming against said separators and said side walls to yieldably support said separators in upright positions while permitting said struts and separators to recoil toward said end walls by the flexing of the outer end portions of the sleeves adjacent said side Walls under the impact of the bottles within said pockets.

2. In a bottle carrier of the type having a bottom surrounded by side and end walls, the improvement comprising a plurality of aligned spaced separators supported on said bottom by hinge means permitting said separators to swing about longitudinal axes, said hinge means also permitting said separators to slide along their axes, a plurality of relatively rigid struts oriented transversely of said separators and carried thereby to provide bottle pockets in conjunction therewith and having their ends terminating at spaced distances from said side walls, and sleeves of flexible, resilient material received about said struts and bottoming against said separators and said side walls to yieldably support said separators in upright positions while permitting said struts and separators to recoil toward the ends of said carrier by the flexing of the outer end portions of said sleeves adjacent said side walls under the impact of the bottles insaid pockets.

3. A shock absorbing bottle carrier, comprising an open-topped basket having a bottom surrounded by side and end walls, said bottom having a plurality of parallel rows of segmental aligned rib portions adapted to receive hinge pins, an interior adapted to float within said basket including a plurality of separators having pin-receiving portions in mating relation respectively with said aligned I rib portions, said separator pin-receiving portions being substantially narrower than the spaces between said rib portions to permit said separators to slide for a limited distance toward both ends of said carrier from their normally centered positions within said carrier, hinge pins extending through said rib portions of said bottom and said pin-receiving portions of said separators to anchor said separators in position, relatively rigid struts oriented transversely of said separators and carried thereby to provide bottle pockets in conjunction therewith and having their ends terminating at spaced distances from said side Walls and sleeves of flexible, resilient material received about said struts and bottoming against said separators and said side walls to yieldably support said separators in uprightfipositionswhile permitting said struts and separators 'to recoil in all direc-' tions under the impact of the bottles within said pockets while returning to their normally centered positions after said impact.

4. The bottle carrier of claim 3 in which there are also provided beneath said struts additional transverse struts having an'angular configura- 5 tion and extending through said separators with their outer ends fitting against the bottom of said basket, said struts passing through adjacent separators at varying elevations above the bottom of said basket and being capable of yielding sufficiently to allow said separators to recoil under impact while being sufficiently resilient to assist in returning said struts and separators to their normally centered positions within said basket.

RALPH W. STEVENSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 6 Name Date Klenk Dec. 16, 1913 Robertson Apr. 6, 1915 Clark June 15, 1915 D011 Aug. 1, 1915 Bowen Aug. 8, 1916 Toberlin June 26, 1917 Clark Sept. 17, 1918 Adair July 6, 1920 Quirk et al. Mar. 17, 1936 Krueger et a1. Oct. 14, 1941 Faulkner Aug. 25, 1942 

